Saskatoon designer's sari-upcycling business hit by U.S. tariff surge

Satya Muktinutalapati, originally from India, started the fashion venture Rangeelaa while living in Yorkton and later moved it to Saskatoon in 2019. The label’s core model is to upcycle worn saris into new clothing items, a process that has prevented about 6,000 saris from ending up in waste. Production is carried out by a small team of ten artisans in India, with each piece taking considerable time to complete.

Approximately 80% of Rangeelaa’s buyers are in the United States, making the brand vulnerable to trade policy. Recent American tariffs have imposed an additional 30-35% customs charge, eroding the company’s margins and leaving it with no profit this year. Nonetheless, long-standing customers remain enthusiastic, and the business continues to educate buyers about sari heritage.